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Established Camping

Cookson Bend

Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

Beginning November 1, 2024, the park will be partially open for day use and boat ramp access only. The park will be winterized, and there will be no camping allowed. First come/first served campsites will be available March 1, 2025, and reservations will begin April 1, 2025 through September 30, 2025.

Cookson Bend is located near Tenkiller Ferry Lake, offering a landscape of rolling hills and dense forests. Temperatures range from lows in the 30s during winter to highs in the 90s in summer. Nearby attractions include Tenkiller State Park and the Illinois River, providing opportunities for hiking, fishing, and boating.

Description

US Army Corps of Engineers

Tenkiller Ferry Lake

Overview

Cookson Bend Campground is a popular area that lies on Tenkiller Ferry Lake, among the Cookson Hills of the Ozark Mountains. Visitors here delight in breathtaking views of 200-foot limestone bluffs rising from the scenic waters.

Recreation

Boating, fishing, water skiing, hiking and swimming are among the activities enjoyed by visitors. Scuba divers enjoy the lake's clear waters and high visibility. Ten marinas are located on the lake. Most offer boat and jet-ski rentals, and several have floating restaurants. Fishing is good for black bass, white bass, striped bass, crappie and catfish. The trout stream below the dam is one of only two year-round trout fisheries in Oklahoma, and is regularly stocked with rainbow trout. Hunting is also permitted in parts of the lake area, in accordance with state laws.

Natural Features

Tenkiller Ferry Lake is often referred to as Oklahoma's clear water paradise. The 12,500-acre lake is sourced by the Illinois River and the Baron Fork, which are both designated as Oklahoma Scenic Rivers. Located in the northeastern part of the state, the region is known as Green Country, with surroundings of dense Oak-Hickory forests, tall bluffs, and rolling hills. Tenkiller boasts 130 miles of shoreline with plenty of wildlife such as deer and turkey. It also serves as one of the flyways of migratory birds, including bald eagles, common loons, and white pelicans.

Nearby Attractions

Visit the Tenkiller State Park for its nature center and scuba diving park, the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge near Vian, or the historic city of Tahlequah - the capitol of the Cherokee Nation. The scenic upper Illinois River near Tahlequah is great for canoeing and rafting, and the lower Illinois near Gore offers prime trout fishing.

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Location

Cookson Bend is located in Oklahoma

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Tahlequah, OK go 17.5 miles southeast on Highway 82. Look for sings for Tenkiller and turn right, then go two miles west on the paved access road.

Address

446977 EAST 980 ROAD
Gore, OK 74435-9547

Coordinates

35.7066667 N
94.96 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Available
  • AT&T
    Good
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Water Hookups
  • 50 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Reviews

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3.5

out of 5

3 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 30, 2021

Water water everywhere

Cookson Bend Campground is a popular area that lies on Tenkiller Ferry Lake, among the Cookson Hills of the Ozark Mountains. Visitors here delight in breathtaking views of 200-foot limestone bluffs rising from the scenic waters. 

Open All year Peak season Apr 1- Sep 30 Reservations welcome 

Off peak Oct 1– Mar 30 FCFS Electric sites $19.00 Non electric $14.00 

Ten only non electric $14.00 Group shelter $50.00 You will find sites with electric and sites without. 

There are hot showers, water, playground, swimming beach, dump station, fishing dock, boat ramps, flush toilets. The sites are older and consist of gravel and grass but the grass is well maintained. Beautiful water sites make the visit worthwhile. There are lot of trash dumpster scattered throughout the park. Most sites are nicely shaded. There is a marina next to the campground with the ability to purchase needed items, rent boats, etc. 

Tenkiller Ferry Lake has waters that are clean and clear from a distance of 8 to 28 feet. It is located in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains and it is covered in oak, and hickory forest. There are tall bluffs and gently rolling hills. The lake has 12,500 acres of surface water which make it the perfect getaway. 

Check-out time: 3:00 pm. Check-in time: 6:00 pm. Quiet hours: 10:00 pm- 6:00 am. Entrance gates will be closed during this time. Grey water and sewage must be properly disposed of in the provided dump station receptacle. Trash must be placed in the provided dumpsters. Pets must remain restrained on a leash or penned at all times. Pets are not allowed on swim beaches or in bathrooms.

Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Group shelters are day use only. Limit 3 tents, or 1 wheeled camper and 2 tents per camp pad. Fireworks are prohibited.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Cookson Bend by N I., September 30, 2021
  • Review photo of Cookson Bend by N I., September 30, 2021
  • Review photo of Cookson Bend by N I., September 30, 2021
  • (19) View All
Reviewed Jun. 29, 2021

Lake Front Camping

This is a lakeside campground with 2 primary sections terraced so that most campsites have at least a partial lake view. All sites are water/electric with sites 51 thru 57 offering 50 amp and the remaining sites 30 amp. Some of the 30 amp sites share water connections. There are 2 boat ramps and a playground. The dump station is just outside the gate and is in good working order. Cookson Bend has the potential to be a beautiful campground but lacks facility and grounds maintenance. Unfortunately, this is well below the COE's typical standards.

Site51
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Cookson Bend by Randy , June 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Cookson Bend by Randy , June 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Cookson Bend by Randy , June 29, 2021
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Aug. 2, 2018

Beautiful lake

Fishing galore, swimming area boat launch. Very safe and secure

Month of VisitOctober

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Cookson Bend have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Cookson Bend has 50 amp electric hookups and water hookups.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Cookson Bend?

    Cookson Bend allows vehicles up to 160 feet.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Cookson Bend?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is available, AT&T is good, and T-Mobile is unknown.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Cookson Bend?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Cookson Bend. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Cookson Bend, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Cookson Bend?

    There are 134 campsites at Cookson Bend and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts